Towards the end of the death penalty in Morocco?

Media7 December 10, 2024

The Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, announced this Monday, December 9 that Morocco will vote for the first time in favor of a UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. This vote, expected at the next United Nations General Assembly, marks a turning point in the Kingdom’s position on this issue.

Morocco, which has observed a de facto moratorium on executions since 1993, had abstained from nine previous resolutions relating to capital punishment. According to Mr. Ouahbi, this change illustrates the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting the right to life, in accordance with article 20 of the Moroccan Constitution.

This decision also reflects Morocco’s desire to strengthen its policy in favor of human rights, while respecting national specificities and the societal debate on the subject, the minister specified during a public session in Parliament.

The minister stressed that this support for the UN moratorium is part of a dynamic of human justice aimed at consolidating Morocco’s position as a country committed to the defense of fundamental rights.

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